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Open for outdoor dining, takeout and delivery. Walk-ins welcome, reservations recommended. Inspired by the flavors synonymous with coastal Baja and mainland Mexico, Playa Mesa brings a refreshing approach to authentic Mexican food and drink. The menu draws from Mexico, including Ensenada, Jalisco, Michoacán, and Oaxaca, using the same type of farm-fresh ingredients and cooking methods passed down for generations. Just like the handmade tortillas, which arrive at your table hot off the comal. Playa Mesa is a vibrant and inviting retreat with a tranquil south of the border ambiance. We proudly serve lunch and dinner daily, Taco Tuesday, weekend brunch and weekday happy hour.
Casual, breezy stop for homestyle Mexican food & drinks, plus weekend brunch & happy hours.
Hours
| Friday | 11 AM–11 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–11 PM |
| Sunday | 9 AM–10 PM |
| Monday | 11 AM–10 PM |
| Tuesday | 11 AM–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 11 AM–10 PM |
| Thursday | 11 AM–10 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 428 E 17th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Phone: (949) 287-5292
Website: https://www.playamesa.com/
Menu Photos
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Related Web Results
Playa Mesa | Mexican Restaurant in Orange County | Costa Mesa …
Playa Mesa serves coastal Mexican cuisine for lunch, dinner, brunch, happy hour, and Taco Tuesday. Voted the Best Margarita in California by Yelp.
MENUS – Playa Mesa
… , housemade tortillas, chips, salsa & guacamole. Order Now. Contact. [email protected] · (949) 287-5292. 428 E 17th St. Costa Mesa, California 92627. •. •.
Playa Mesa (@playamesa) – Instagram
Indoor & Outdoor Dining Authentic Mexican fare. Voted BEST margarita in CA Host your next event with us @loungegroupevents · Photo by Playa Mesa in Costa Mesa, …
Reviews
Joyful
First Visit and Loved it. Our Server was amazing—so warm, welcoming, friendly, kind, helpful. Lovely Vibe and the music was great!
Tamarind Margarita was the bomb! Carnitas Taco and Birria Taco were decent—nothing special, but good. Sad I forgot to get the photo of our Tacos! Got distracted!
Guacamole was fresh but lacked flavor and we only got a small soup cup for $8 HH price.
My friend enjoyed the Fish Taco, not so much the Veg Taco. The bartender was gracious to make a Red Sangria which my friend enjoyed. Chips and Salsa was very good and there’s 2 extra hot sauces they brought for us to try
I’ll def go again and rec you give this place a try.
… moreTamarind Margarita was the bomb! Carnitas Taco and Birria Taco were decent—nothing special, but good. Sad I forgot to get the photo of our Tacos! Got distracted!
Guacamole was fresh but lacked flavor and we only got a small soup cup for $8 HH price.
My friend enjoyed the Fish Taco, not so much the Veg Taco. The bartender was gracious to make a Red Sangria which my friend enjoyed. Chips and Salsa was very good and there’s 2 extra hot sauces they brought for us to try
I’ll def go again and rec you give this place a try.
Ally Velazquez
I’m honestly not one to write reviews, but I had such a great experience here that I felt like I had to. From the moment we walked in, the service was really good. All of the staff was great! Everyone was friendly, attentive, and made us feel genuinely welcomed the entire time. The margaritas and specialty drinks were so good and incredibly creative. You can tell they put a lot of thought into them, and they tasted just as amazing as they looked. The food was just as impressive. I loved everything I ordered, and so did my family. Every dish was flavorful, fresh, and came out perfectly. What really made the experience even better was the manager on duty. I believe her name was Jayleen. She was very attentive, friendly, and welcoming, and she went out of her way to check on us and make sure we were having a great time. You could tell she truly cared, and that level of hospitality made a huge difference. Overall, I’m very satisfied. I had such a great time with my family, loved everything, and I will definitely be going back. Highly recommend!
… moreVictoria Serrano
Came here to celebrate my birthday with my sister. I loved everything about this restaurant, except the food. We didn’t get a full plate, we just ordered a bunch of the appetizers. The guacamole was insane! Top notch! The rest was just ok. Chicken taquitos, tacos de papa and fish ceviche. The drinks were perfect and the service was excellent. I will be going back. Maybe for the brunch or a date night. Fully recommend this place and order the margarita flight.
… moreEmily Cervantes
The food was incredible! I got the carnitas taco plate and the food was delicious I am very picky with my beans but these were so tasty. I also got the tamarindo, sandía and candy shot. All were delicious but the candy shot has a predominant jalapeño taste that wasn’t my favorite but if you love jalapeño it is right up your alley! I would recommend you try it out!! My coworkers and I will be coming back to celebrate their anniversary :)!
… moreMichelle Cho
Beautiful!!! It was our (my mom, my younger brother, and me) first time here.
We came here for Tuesday Brunch around 11 am, just when the place opened and it’s been a nice atmosphere with people slowly trickling in for lunch. It was our pleasant surprise to discover it was also Taco Tuesday today!
Chips and salsa are provided as you decide on what to eat
We asked our waiter what the best dishes would be and we got the following:
*small guacamole ($8 because of Happy Hour, originally ~$13) – not needed unless you’re Crazy for guacamole
*ceviche campechano – a wonderful appetizer, supposedly better than the ceviche de pescado
*fajita steak – good for sharing with family
*four tacos ($4 each because of happy hour, you can choose between flour or corn tortillas) – two fish tacos (flour) and two birria tacos (corn)
We got to take leftovers home.
Thank you for an outstanding meal and service!!! God bless you all. I appreciate the variety of foods, presentation, and intentionality of it all.
… moreWe came here for Tuesday Brunch around 11 am, just when the place opened and it’s been a nice atmosphere with people slowly trickling in for lunch. It was our pleasant surprise to discover it was also Taco Tuesday today!
Chips and salsa are provided as you decide on what to eat
We asked our waiter what the best dishes would be and we got the following:
*small guacamole ($8 because of Happy Hour, originally ~$13) – not needed unless you’re Crazy for guacamole
*ceviche campechano – a wonderful appetizer, supposedly better than the ceviche de pescado
*fajita steak – good for sharing with family
*four tacos ($4 each because of happy hour, you can choose between flour or corn tortillas) – two fish tacos (flour) and two birria tacos (corn)
We got to take leftovers home.
Thank you for an outstanding meal and service!!! God bless you all. I appreciate the variety of foods, presentation, and intentionality of it all.
Penny Chambers
WOW!
SO IMPRESSED
I don’t know where to start!
My first time, I came in alone at 3:45 craving Mexican food and hungry. The place is beautiful, inviting & comfortable.
I had a couple of tacos.
Carne Asada and fish(cod cooked perfectly)
The Carne was melt in your mouth
(never ever seen or tasted that on HAPPY HOUR tacos)
AMAZING!
The quality is STELLAR.. not your dry meat or fish.
There’s a vibe of such Quality in this place, it’s like your in your own home from the salsa, chips ,
tortillas and the meat and fish…You can taste the homemade love in everything
And you can tell they take their food seriously.
Love that!
Jose Is a great representative of the Restaurant!
I’ll definitely be back for more and tell friends:)
It’s embarrassing to say I got out the door with this quality and a drink for under $20 without a tip.
I’m sorry no pics… next time!
PLEASE GIVE IT A TRY!
… moreSO IMPRESSED
I don’t know where to start!
My first time, I came in alone at 3:45 craving Mexican food and hungry. The place is beautiful, inviting & comfortable.
I had a couple of tacos.
Carne Asada and fish(cod cooked perfectly)
The Carne was melt in your mouth
(never ever seen or tasted that on HAPPY HOUR tacos)
AMAZING!
The quality is STELLAR.. not your dry meat or fish.
There’s a vibe of such Quality in this place, it’s like your in your own home from the salsa, chips ,
tortillas and the meat and fish…You can taste the homemade love in everything
And you can tell they take their food seriously.
Love that!
Jose Is a great representative of the Restaurant!
I’ll definitely be back for more and tell friends:)
It’s embarrassing to say I got out the door with this quality and a drink for under $20 without a tip.
I’m sorry no pics… next time!
PLEASE GIVE IT A TRY!
Michelle Ludwig
My husband and I went there tonight for the first time. Everything was delicious. The drinks were awesome and our bartender Samantha was amazing! The food was great and we loved the flan! We highly recommend this place.
… moreTarannum Gutierrez
Food and service was good, especially during happy hour, however dropping them down a star because they drove us to use and pay $5 for valet! The parking lot was completely empty both when we arrived and left. It was ridiculous.
… moreLord Van Cannon
Parking is a nightmare. Be aware of that first.
Moving on…
Upon walking in we were greeted immediately.
Staff is very attentive and helpful.
Our waiter was very professional, outgoing and all around made the dining experience better.
However…. That’s what it was.
The dining experience from the ambience, seating and decor was great! And they’ve got a lot of really amazing tequila options. Largest I’ve seen in the area.
However my food wasn’t that great and I couldn’t even finish it.
Rice was over cooked and under cooked… some were hard some too soft.
The cheese in the enchiladas weren’t even melted… and the beans had zero flavor.
I’ve heard from other people the food isn’t consistent here… and now I believe them. Is there a different chef on different days and times? That’s probably it.
The bathroom was clean. Entire place was clean and well presented.
Would it go back here? Probably not on my own.
If someone else said “we’re going here” I’d probably go. But I’m not going to go on my own out of my way.
If you enjoy tequila check this place out though for sure.
HUGE selection.
… moreMoving on…
Upon walking in we were greeted immediately.
Staff is very attentive and helpful.
Our waiter was very professional, outgoing and all around made the dining experience better.
However…. That’s what it was.
The dining experience from the ambience, seating and decor was great! And they’ve got a lot of really amazing tequila options. Largest I’ve seen in the area.
However my food wasn’t that great and I couldn’t even finish it.
Rice was over cooked and under cooked… some were hard some too soft.
The cheese in the enchiladas weren’t even melted… and the beans had zero flavor.
I’ve heard from other people the food isn’t consistent here… and now I believe them. Is there a different chef on different days and times? That’s probably it.
The bathroom was clean. Entire place was clean and well presented.
Would it go back here? Probably not on my own.
If someone else said “we’re going here” I’d probably go. But I’m not going to go on my own out of my way.
If you enjoy tequila check this place out though for sure.
HUGE selection.
Saman
Disappointing Experience at Playa – Not Worth the Hype
We were on the hunt for a solid Mexican restaurant for lunch in Costa Mesa, and Playa caught our eye with its decent amount of reviews on Yelp. So, we thought, why not give it a try? Unfortunately, we left wondering how it got those stars in the first place.
First Impressions: Upon arriving, we were greeted by a valet service, which felt unnecessary given the size of the parking lot. It just seemed like an extra step when there was plenty of space to park on our own. But hey, that’s not a dealbreaker—what came next, however, was.
The Food: We started with chips and salsa, which, I’ll admit, was the high point of the meal. The salsa was flavorful and fresh, giving us hope for the rest of the dishes. But sadly, that was the only highlight.
Shrimp & Octopus Ceviche – This dish was a cold disappointment, literally. It tasted like it had been frozen, and when I brought this up to the staff, they casually confirmed it wasn’t fresh and had been kept in the fridge. Yikes. The texture was icy, and we could feel it under our teeth. Serving ceviche like this is a huge red flag.
Birria Tacos – These were just okay. Not bad, but certainly not memorable. The meat inside was fine, but the dish lacked that “wow” factor you’d expect from a place that promises authentic Mexican flavors.
Grilled Shrimp – Once again, not fresh. It tasted like it had been reheated, lacking any real flavor or tenderness. It was a forgettable, uninspired dish.
Carne Asada Tacos – Easily the worst item we ordered. The meat tasted funny, wasn’t fresh, and was served cold. It was borderline inedible. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if this dish had been sitting around for a while before it hit our table.
Service: Our server, Alejandra, was friendly and attentive, and after witnessing our dissatisfaction with the ceviche and carne asada, she didn’t charge us for those items. I appreciated her gesture, but it didn’t make up for the poor quality of the food. The only item we paid for was the Birria Tacos, which, at that point, felt like a minor consolation.
Overall: This place is seriously overrated. The fresh, vibrant flavors we were hoping for were nowhere to be found. Don’t be fooled by the stars or glowing reviews. The food was not fresh, and frankly, some dishes were downright bad. If you’re looking for a great Mexican dining experience in Costa Mesa, keep looking—Playa is not it.
… moreWe were on the hunt for a solid Mexican restaurant for lunch in Costa Mesa, and Playa caught our eye with its decent amount of reviews on Yelp. So, we thought, why not give it a try? Unfortunately, we left wondering how it got those stars in the first place.
First Impressions: Upon arriving, we were greeted by a valet service, which felt unnecessary given the size of the parking lot. It just seemed like an extra step when there was plenty of space to park on our own. But hey, that’s not a dealbreaker—what came next, however, was.
The Food: We started with chips and salsa, which, I’ll admit, was the high point of the meal. The salsa was flavorful and fresh, giving us hope for the rest of the dishes. But sadly, that was the only highlight.
Shrimp & Octopus Ceviche – This dish was a cold disappointment, literally. It tasted like it had been frozen, and when I brought this up to the staff, they casually confirmed it wasn’t fresh and had been kept in the fridge. Yikes. The texture was icy, and we could feel it under our teeth. Serving ceviche like this is a huge red flag.
Birria Tacos – These were just okay. Not bad, but certainly not memorable. The meat inside was fine, but the dish lacked that “wow” factor you’d expect from a place that promises authentic Mexican flavors.
Grilled Shrimp – Once again, not fresh. It tasted like it had been reheated, lacking any real flavor or tenderness. It was a forgettable, uninspired dish.
Carne Asada Tacos – Easily the worst item we ordered. The meat tasted funny, wasn’t fresh, and was served cold. It was borderline inedible. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if this dish had been sitting around for a while before it hit our table.
Service: Our server, Alejandra, was friendly and attentive, and after witnessing our dissatisfaction with the ceviche and carne asada, she didn’t charge us for those items. I appreciated her gesture, but it didn’t make up for the poor quality of the food. The only item we paid for was the Birria Tacos, which, at that point, felt like a minor consolation.
Overall: This place is seriously overrated. The fresh, vibrant flavors we were hoping for were nowhere to be found. Don’t be fooled by the stars or glowing reviews. The food was not fresh, and frankly, some dishes were downright bad. If you’re looking for a great Mexican dining experience in Costa Mesa, keep looking—Playa is not it.